jury followed instruction (Massachusetts) · Go Syfert
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jury followed instruction in Massachusetts

11 Massachusetts opinions name it 2 courts 1950–2026 2 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Massachusetts courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (10)

CaseFollowedCited
Commonwealth v. Gerhartsreitergreen
massappct · 2012 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2026–2026
1 sentence

2026See Commonwealth v. Gerhartsreiter, 82 Mass. App. Ct. 500 , 508 n.5 (2012) ("We also note that the jury ultimately acquitted the defendant of two of the charges against him, indicating, to some extent, that they focused their attention on the evidence presented in the case and were not swayed by prejudice"). 2.

11
Commonwealth v. Wilsongreen
mass · 1998 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025Immediately following the comment, the prosecutor stated that the defendant "has been punished for committing those offenses," that "he has served his sentence for those offenses," and that "that's not the point of this proceeding." The gravity of the underlying crimes (which would have been evident to the jury) was not a theme of the closing, and the judge instructed that the verdict "must not be based on sympathy or emotion." We presume that the jury followed this instruction and that they had "a certain measure of sophistication in sorting out excessive claims on both sides." 7 Cuffee, supr

11
Commonwealth v. Belandgreen
mass · 2002 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025Furthermore, the absence of an objection "is some indication that the tone [and] manner . . . of the now challenged aspects of the prosecutor's argument were not unfairly prejudicial." Commonwealth v. Beland, 436 Mass. 273, 289 (2002), quoting Commonwealth v. Sanchez, 405 Mass. 369, 375 (1989).

11
Commonwealth v. Sanchezgreen
mass · 1989 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025Furthermore, the absence of an objection "is some indication that the tone [and] manner . . . of the now challenged aspects of the prosecutor's argument were not unfairly prejudicial." Commonwealth v. Beland, 436 Mass. 273, 289 (2002), quoting Commonwealth v. Sanchez, 405 Mass. 369, 375 (1989).

11
Commonwealth v. Helfantgreen
mass · 1986 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2018–2018
1 sentence

2018See Commonwealth v. Helfant , 398 Mass. 214 , 228-229 (1986).

11
Commonwealth v. McGeegreen
mass · 2014 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2016–2016
1 sentence

2016See Commonwealth v. McGee, 469 Mass. 1, 12 (2014). c.

11
Commonwealth v. Moralesgreen
mass · 2012 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2014–2014
1 sentence

2014Rather, the Commonwealth alleges that the shooting, along with the acts allegedly taken thereafter, caused Mr. Castro’s death.” We presume that the jury followed this instruction, see, e.g., Commonwealth v. Morales, 461 Mass. 765, 784 (2012), and therefore that they relied on the evidence introduced regarding the intruders’ conduct after the shooting.

11
Rodriquez v. Batchellergreen
scotus · 1998 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2012–2012
1 sentence

2012See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Delaney, 425 Mass. 587, 595 (1997), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1058 (1998).

11
Commonwealth v. Degrogreen
mass · 2000 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2012–2012
1 sentence

2012See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Degro, 432 Mass. 319, 328 (2000).

11
Commonwealth v. Delaneygreen
mass · 1997 · cited in 1 Massachusetts opinions naming this issue, 2012–2012
1 sentence

2012See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Delaney, 425 Mass. 587, 595 (1997), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1058 (1998).

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Massachusetts. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (4)

CaseCitedYears
Commonwealth v. Shruhan green
massappct · 2016
1 sentence

2018In addition, the judge once again instructed the entire jury that they were to "begin their deliberations anew on the merits of the case." "We presume that the jury followed the instruction." Commonwealth v. Shruhan , 89 Mass. App. Ct. 320 , 326 (2016).

12018–2018
Commonwealth v. Florentino green
mass · 1980
1 sentence

2006Commonwealth v. Florentino, supra at 196 .

12006–2006
Commonwealth v. Rondoni green
mass · 1955
1 sentence

1972Commonwealth v. Rondoni, 333 Mass. 384,386 .

11972–1972
Berlandi v. Commonwealth green
mass · 1943
1 sentence

1950Berlandi v. Commonwealth, 314 Mass. 424, 452 .

11950–1950

Where else courts name it

CA 290 (1935–2026) TX 158 (1988–2026) WA 37 (1951–2025) CO 33 (1919–2025) OH 29 (1997–2024) PA 20 (1935–2026) TN 19 (1983–2022) AZ 17 (1986–2026) CT 15 (1981–2025) ID 15 (1999–2022) VA 15 (1990–2023) IL 14 (1894–2025) MI 14 (1965–2024) WI 13 (1996–2026) MO 13 (1959–2019) MA 11 (1950–2026) KS 10 (1985–2024) NJ 10 (1991–2026) IN 8 (1968–2026) MS 8 (1983–2018) ME 5 (1941–2019) GA 5 (2017–2023) OK 5 (1926–2025) NY 5 (1961–2017) MT 5 (1929–2022) NC 4 (1951–1991) WY 4 (1987–2020) RI 4 (1978–2013) MD 3 (1977–2009) SD 3 (1991–2024) MN 3 (2014–2016) DC 3 (1990–2022) NM 3 (1981–2020) NH 2 (2003–2013) ND 2 (1960–1993) IA 2 (1928–2014)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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